a dream. A wonderful dream, one of those ones that you wake up from and wish that it could have lasted longer. It was a weekend to remember. I wanted to drink it all in, remember every detail.
Like how there wasn't a 4 or 14th floor at our hotel because in China those numbers are considered evil. All the taxis are red, and there are more escalators than I've ever seen in my life. I guess fitting 7 million people into such a small area requires stuff like that. The fishing village: little dilapidated boats that people actually live on --- and Victoria Peak has the most incredible view of the city --- shopping at Stanley market (which included trying to bargain for the first time) --- oh yes. What a dream.
But now I've woken up. Home in the states... heck even Hong Kong. Those really feel like dreams at the moment. This is my reality. I just survived the longest, hottest, sweatiest, dirtiest and most unusual day of my entire life. I loved it.
We had to be at the school at 7:30 this morning to meet the headmistress and see our classrooms. The school is adorable and the headmistress quite friendly. We had porridge (rice in a sort of soup with little thin meat chunks floating in it) and a sweet roll for breakfast. Very unlike anything I've ever had before, but it was also very good. We then spent quite a while wandering around the city trying to find the bank, and various other places. I've never seen a crazier traffic system in my life - rickshaws and motorcycles and fancy cars all darting and weaving, with pedestrians who don't seem to care whether or not there is a sidewalk for them to walk on. Therefore: there is a lot of honking going on.
I've never felt more conspicuous in my life than I did today. Some people darted sneaky glances at us, most just openly stared. Some would point, and a few would call out 'hello.' I don't think they knew any more than that. The times I tried to talk to someone they didn't know any English at all. I'm getting good at sign language, but I try to keep my mouth shut except to speak English because the two times I tried to say 'thank you' in Mandarin, people openly laughed at me. I don't have a clue what I said, but I'm certain that my tonation was wrong. Oh well. Despite the language barrier, I did manage to make two purchases without any help from someone who could speak. I felt quite accomplished.
Our apartment is filthy. Maybe partially because it's been vacated all summer, and maybe partially because this is China --- so we spent about 40 USD on cleaning supplies --- which cost us over 200 yuan --- and we went to work. The room I share with two other girls is now sanitary. Not pretty --- but it's clean and tidy and after a shower tonight I feel like a new body.
I wish I could write more --- but it's midnight and we have to be at the school again at 7:30 tomorrow. The school here is trying to work us to death --- hopefully things cool down soon and I can spend more time feeling like an actual human being.
China is a crazy place. I think I'm going to love it here though.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Jet Lag Sucks
Really.
But despite our extreme tiredness.... (It's 3:30 am in Utah time and 5:30 pm the next day here in Hong Kong) we have ventured out to explore the city. We may hit up the temple later! But our first order of business was to exchange money and find some Wifi. (Starbucks is great! There's one in the shopping center here and that's how I found internet.)
Hong Kong. Is. Incredible. Can I just say that? Buildings bigger than anything you've ever seen.... and it's green. And raining. Therefore: after we freshened up at our hotel, we set out to exchange currency across the street, and my first purchase in HK was a blue umbrella and banana at a mini supermarket on the street. Together they cost me 21 dollars and 40 cents. That's in Hong Kong dollars, so in American money I spent less than 3 dollars. Guess they weren't kidding when they said stuff here is cheaper. You feel like you are forking out lots of money -- handing over a twenty for something so small. But when I stop and convert in my head I don't feel like I'm being so spendy.
It definitely is humid and hot here, but I'm not all sticky right now! Maybe that's due to the rain.... guess I'll find out at some point. I'm hoping that the stickiness stays away though. Although I'm slightly doubting it. Ha.
There is much much more I could say. I could tell you about how they drive on the 'wrong' side of the street, or about how there's no traffic rule system that we can really figure out. No cross walks either... best we can see it's just kind of dart and weave and duck and go whenever you can. Luckily traffic is slow so I'm not too afraid of getting hit by a cab driver. I could tell you about the sweet room in the shopping center that makes it look like you are under water, or about how tomorrow I'll get to hike Victoria's peak and tour the fisherman's market. We're also planning on a firework show over the bay. There are so many experiences to describe.... but the city is calling and I only have a short time here in HK. So this post is going to end shortly. Let's just say that Hong Kong is great. I can see why Papa is jealous that he didn't get to come here too. Don't worry though Papa, I'm taking lots of pictures :)
But despite our extreme tiredness.... (It's 3:30 am in Utah time and 5:30 pm the next day here in Hong Kong) we have ventured out to explore the city. We may hit up the temple later! But our first order of business was to exchange money and find some Wifi. (Starbucks is great! There's one in the shopping center here and that's how I found internet.)
Hong Kong. Is. Incredible. Can I just say that? Buildings bigger than anything you've ever seen.... and it's green. And raining. Therefore: after we freshened up at our hotel, we set out to exchange currency across the street, and my first purchase in HK was a blue umbrella and banana at a mini supermarket on the street. Together they cost me 21 dollars and 40 cents. That's in Hong Kong dollars, so in American money I spent less than 3 dollars. Guess they weren't kidding when they said stuff here is cheaper. You feel like you are forking out lots of money -- handing over a twenty for something so small. But when I stop and convert in my head I don't feel like I'm being so spendy.
It definitely is humid and hot here, but I'm not all sticky right now! Maybe that's due to the rain.... guess I'll find out at some point. I'm hoping that the stickiness stays away though. Although I'm slightly doubting it. Ha.
There is much much more I could say. I could tell you about how they drive on the 'wrong' side of the street, or about how there's no traffic rule system that we can really figure out. No cross walks either... best we can see it's just kind of dart and weave and duck and go whenever you can. Luckily traffic is slow so I'm not too afraid of getting hit by a cab driver. I could tell you about the sweet room in the shopping center that makes it look like you are under water, or about how tomorrow I'll get to hike Victoria's peak and tour the fisherman's market. We're also planning on a firework show over the bay. There are so many experiences to describe.... but the city is calling and I only have a short time here in HK. So this post is going to end shortly. Let's just say that Hong Kong is great. I can see why Papa is jealous that he didn't get to come here too. Don't worry though Papa, I'm taking lots of pictures :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Once upon a time,
Krystal went to the airport. She checked two large suitcases. She found her friend Elizabeth, and showed her how to get through airport security. Then she and Elizabeth found their gate. The gate that they were going to walk through to board a plane that would take them to LA. And then from LA to Seoul. And then from Seoul to Hong Kong. As in THE Hong Kong. In China. Just in case you were confused.
Krystal and Elizabeth sat down with some other friends to wait at their gate. And then Krystal cursed the forgetfulness demons who made her forget to take her Wackee 6 cards out of her suitcase. Bah humbug. Those cards could have sigificantly reduced the time spend in idle bordom during the layovers to come. Ah well. Ce la vie.
Then Krystal and Elizabeth and a whole bunch of other girls boarded a very large airplane and blew kisses (well, at least Krystal did) to Utah as they flew away to a big city called LA. For everyone's information. LAX isn't as crappy as everyone says it is. It's much worse. However, after asking for directions and a fair amount of walking, the girls from ILP found the international building - and obtained their boarding passes so that they could board an even larger plane (2 stories!) to fly across the ocean to Korea. TWELVE hours of flying later... (which meant lots of movies and attempting to sleep and reading)... they got off at the Incheon Korea airport. Now, Incheon is nothing like LAX. It is large. And clean. And beautiful. And very uncrowded at the unearthly hour of 4am. Also. Korea is very warm. And humid. At 3 something in the morning when our plane landed it was 77 degrees fahrenheit outside.
By the time the girls got to their second layover, there was so much to see and so much sleep to catch up on that Krystal no longer regretted leaving her Wackee 6 cards in the checked luggage. She wouldn't have used them anyway here in Korea. She spent time taking pictures of the sign that says the water in the drinking fountain is safe, and the random real red chili peppers growing in pots as a decor. And napping. Cause it's going to be a LONG day.
Now Krystal is sitting in Korea, thinking about her experiences so far. This is so unlike anything I've ever done. All the signs are first in Korean, then Chinese, and then English. Thank goodness for the English --- I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't read anything.
I'm also experiencing for the first time ever what it's like to be a minority. Even though there are over 30 American girls from ILP here.... we stand out like sore thumbs, nearly everyone else is Asian. It's kinda neat. And kinda weird. Especially since there have been quite a few curious glances our direction.
But anyways. This is it! I'm off! We'll board out plane for Hong Kong fairly soon.
Oh. And pictures will be following soon.
Wish me luck!
Krystal and Elizabeth sat down with some other friends to wait at their gate. And then Krystal cursed the forgetfulness demons who made her forget to take her Wackee 6 cards out of her suitcase. Bah humbug. Those cards could have sigificantly reduced the time spend in idle bordom during the layovers to come. Ah well. Ce la vie.
Then Krystal and Elizabeth and a whole bunch of other girls boarded a very large airplane and blew kisses (well, at least Krystal did) to Utah as they flew away to a big city called LA. For everyone's information. LAX isn't as crappy as everyone says it is. It's much worse. However, after asking for directions and a fair amount of walking, the girls from ILP found the international building - and obtained their boarding passes so that they could board an even larger plane (2 stories!) to fly across the ocean to Korea. TWELVE hours of flying later... (which meant lots of movies and attempting to sleep and reading)... they got off at the Incheon Korea airport. Now, Incheon is nothing like LAX. It is large. And clean. And beautiful. And very uncrowded at the unearthly hour of 4am. Also. Korea is very warm. And humid. At 3 something in the morning when our plane landed it was 77 degrees fahrenheit outside.
By the time the girls got to their second layover, there was so much to see and so much sleep to catch up on that Krystal no longer regretted leaving her Wackee 6 cards in the checked luggage. She wouldn't have used them anyway here in Korea. She spent time taking pictures of the sign that says the water in the drinking fountain is safe, and the random real red chili peppers growing in pots as a decor. And napping. Cause it's going to be a LONG day.
Now Krystal is sitting in Korea, thinking about her experiences so far. This is so unlike anything I've ever done. All the signs are first in Korean, then Chinese, and then English. Thank goodness for the English --- I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't read anything.
I'm also experiencing for the first time ever what it's like to be a minority. Even though there are over 30 American girls from ILP here.... we stand out like sore thumbs, nearly everyone else is Asian. It's kinda neat. And kinda weird. Especially since there have been quite a few curious glances our direction.
But anyways. This is it! I'm off! We'll board out plane for Hong Kong fairly soon.
Oh. And pictures will be following soon.
Wish me luck!
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